Counter bin



A. J. BURG COUNTER BIN Filed April 50, l927 Egg, 4 K13 @3M W l I Patented Oct. 23,` 1928.

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UNITED sT l 1,688,521-v ATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALEX J. BURG; or sr. PAUL, nnmsso'm.

COUNTER Bm.

YApplication filed April 30, 1927. Serial No. 187,803.

The present invention relates to an adjust..- able bin structure. Y

In department and similar stores it is de.- sirable. to display1 large classes of small itelnsupon a counter and in order to attractively display these items, without permitting the diil'erent classes thereof to become confused with each other, it is customary to provide enclosures ot' plate glass in the form ot small bins. The pieces of plate glass forming the sides of the bins are customarily supported between blocks of wood which are cut to the size of vthe required bins and hold the strips ot' plate glass in position by the weight Ot the wooden blocks resting upon the counter or table top. ln handling the merchandise displayed in bins ot' this character the wooden blocks forming the supports for the plate glass strips are frequent y displaced, causing the glass sides to fall or lean to one side and permitting the merchandise from one ot the bins to escape into adjacent bins. This results in an untidy appeal'- ance of the display,` and confusion of the merchandise. A

The present rinvention has for its object the making of an adjustable bin support which is adapted to the construction of bins of different sizes by employing base units constructed to supportingly engage glass partition members to firmly hold them in position.

In order to attain this object, there' is provided, in accordancev with one feature of the invention, a plurality of blocks slidably mounted upon support members and having means for resiliently drawing the blocks together, to support the bin partition members therebetween.

These and other features of the invention will be more fully brought out in the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is a View in perspective of a device made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2, is a view in transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view in perspective of a plurality of bins constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a partial perspective ot the de vice assembled. v

Referring to the drawings in detail a plurality of base blocks 1v Aare provided with openings 2 and 3 therethrough through which numbers of 'diiferent' are inserted support members 4 which in the y present instance are of wooden doweling. The base blocks are' mounted upon the dowels to have a sliding tit thereon so as to be 'lreely adjustable longitudinally of said dowels. A central hole 5 is drilled through each ot' the blocks parallel to the dowels, in which hole is mounted a coil spring 6 allixed to the block on each end otl the assembly by means of a brad 'i' which enters a loop 8 in each end of the sp1-lng to firmly hold it in position within said block. An angular retaining plate 9 is ailixed to the outside edges o the end blocks of each assembly, the vertical portion of said plate being spaced outwardly from the edge of the block lby means of a wooden spacingr strip 10. These angular plates may be screwed to the blocks by means of wood screws.l not shown. A plurality of filler strips 11, may be of wood, and of the same thickness as the glass of which the partitions are formed, are provided, to replace a glass strip where a bin larger than the base block 1 is required. These strips are of a width which y will bring the top edge of said strips flush wlth the top of the blocks between which they are positioned when said strips are resting upon the dowels 4 upon which the blocks are mounted. Each assembled unit of blocks is of a length equal to the width of the counter upon which it is to be used. By placing .a plurality of the assemblies side by side, as shown in Figure 4, any required amount of bin space may readily be provided. The assemblies on either end ot the counter are constructed with an angle plate 9 on one end of each block to receive a glass end strip 12, while the interior assemblies are constructed with the angle plates on the outer sides of the front and rear blocks only to receive the front and rear glass strips 13 and 14.

To construct bins upon a counter with the present apparatus it is first determined approximately the number and size of bins reuired. A number of assembly units are t en placed upon the counter to lie transversely thereof and glass partition members 15V or filler strips 11 are inserted between the blocks thereof to form bins of the size required. A glass end strip 12 is then inserted in the angle plates 10 on the outer sides of the end assembly units, and a second glass strip 16 is placed against the inner face of this assembly unit. A second assembly unit is then` closely against the glass strip 16 to placed This process is repeated until support it.`

lvthe required number of bins are formed, when another end assembly unit is employed having angle plates 10 on the outer side thereof and a second glass end strip similar to the end strip 12 is inserted in the angle plates 10.- Front and rear glass strips 13 and 14 are then inserted in the angle `plates 10 on the outer ends of the assembly units and the struct-ure is completed.

To change the size of any of the bins it is simply necessary to lift out an of the parti,- tions 15 or filler strips 11 an replace them with filler strips or partitions, as r uired. By rovidingassembly units of di erent Widths any size of bin may be readily provided.

I claim:

1. A counter bin structure, comprising longitudinal su port members, base blocks s idably mounted thereon, means interconnecting said base blocks to resiliently draw them together, and division wall plates removably inserted between the blocks to divide the structure into bins.

2. A counter bin structure, comprising a plurality of base blocks mounted in groups, means interconnecting adjacent base blocks 'of each group to resilient-iy draw them toinserted between the bloc a plurality of gether, and division wall latesY removably I to divide` the structure into bins.

3. counter bin. structure, comprising a plurality of base block units interconnected y means resiliently holding the blocks together, strip means along the outer edges of said units to form wall supporting channels, and wall plates insertable between the units and in the channels to form bins.

45. A counter bin structurel comprising built-up base units havin each a plurality of blocks slidably mounte on a longitudinal support member, means interconnecting said blocks to resiliently draw them together, and division wall plates removably inserted between the blocks and between adjacent base units to form a counter bin structure.

5 A counter bin structure, having a plurality of blocks resiliently interconnected to be drawn together and separable a sufficient distance to receive a division wall plate between adjacent bloeks, the resilient action drawing the blocks together to hold the division wall plates in position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ALEX J. BURG. 

